The bone dragon carried the ship through the air at high speed.
The sailors dared neither move nor speak. They simply huddled on the deck.
Some whispered the Supreme God's name, some trembled with their eyes shut, and some curled up with their arms over their heads.
The ship flew over blackened earth, patrolling skeleton soldiers, and zombies sprawled on the beach.
The undead beneath the ship raised their heads to watch it, soul fire flickering in their eye sockets.
Finally, the bone dragon set the ship down in the clearing before the cathedral.
The ship jolted as it landed, its hull nearly coming apart. Several sailors bounced off the deck and fell back down.
The young sailor scrambled up from the deck and raised his head.
He... saw the Grand Cathedral!
Black walls, pointed roofs, and an enormous statue rising above them.
It wore black robes, its features indistinct, with golden light flickering in its sunken eyes.
A statue of Enzoth, the Supreme God!
He froze.
The Grand Cathedral they had searched for so long was right here...
He had completed his mission, but he felt no joy whatsoever. They had fallen into the hands of monsters. He did not even know whether they would make it back alive.
"The Grand Cathedral..." the first mate beside him whispered.
"The Supreme God's Grand Cathedral..."
"We... finally found it!"
The sailors had all seen it too. Some fell to their knees, clasped their hands, and recited prayers.
Some lay face down on the deck, their foreheads pressed against the planks, tears dripping into the cracks.
Some clung to their companions' shoulders and sobbed aloud.
The Grand Cathedral His Majesty the Emperor sought was right here!
Their mission was complete!
They could finally go home!
But... could they still make it back?